The 2016 Salute to Business Achievement Award Recipients:
Steve Finkelstein, BSBA 1972
Distinguished Career Achievement
Steve Finkelstein graduated in 1972 with a BSBA. While at UMSL, Steve served in the Army Reserves from 1968-1972. He began his career at Monsanto in 1970, working in accounting and system. After an illustrious 20-year career, Steve retired and redirected his energies towards consulting. Among the numerous top consulting organizations Steve worked for included Dun & Bradstreet Software and a Partner with Grant Thornton and Deloitte. In 2006, Steve founded his first consulting business, Advisory Business Solutions, and within 9 months, he co-founded his current company Experience on Demand, a management consulting firm. In 2007, Experience on Demand started out with 3 partners and has since grown to 11 partners. Both Steve and Experience on Demand have received numerous accolades, including being voted the Best Consulting firm in 2014 and 2015 by Small Business Monthly readers. As an alumnus, Steve has been active at UMSL, including numerous consulting projects and co-instructing a class with Dr. Womer called Project Execution. Recently, Steve co-authored a book, “Play Smart to Win in Business, Leadership Lessons from Center Court to the Corner Office.” In the past 9 years, Steve has been involved consulting with over 50 nonprofits and is currently doing a research project to help veterans successfully transition from the military to the workforce.
Julie Hiblovic, BSBA 1995
Outstanding Volunteer
Julie Hiblovic graduated summa cum laude in 1995 with a BSBA in accounting. Julie is a CPA and Audit Partner at Anders CPAs + Advisors, working with privately held companies, primarily in manufacturing, distribution, construction, and gaming. She has experience working for national, regional and local firms. Julie has remained involved at the University of Missouri – St. Louis through her involvement on the Accounting Advisory Board. Small Business Monthly named Julie one of the Top 100 St. Louisans to Know to Succeed in Business in 2013 and a Top Accountant in 2015. She most recently served three terms on the board of the Downtown St. Louis Community Improvement District. As an advisor to the Anders Young Professionals Staff Advisory Group, Julie is active in firm leadership and developing the firm of the future. Passionate about supporting women in leadership; she is an active member of the Professional Women’s Alliance and one of the leaders of the Anders Women’s Initiative. Julie loves traveling to new and interesting places on weekend getaways and vacations. She brings enthusiasm to everything she does, including trying new wines and watching the myriad of sports her twin sons play.
Aaron Golchert, BSBA 2007
Rising Star
Aaron Golchert graduated in 2007 with his BSBA in management. With over $100M in sales in 2015, N2 Publishing is the nation’s leading provider of specialty print publications, where, at 33, Aaron is the most tenured Area Director out of over 1000 nationwide. He has owned 13 different publications, held numerous leadership positions including Market Director of LA, is one of four National Best Practice Experts who travel the country to help train and lead new sales people, and is also the first member of N2’s New Product Development Team. He has sat on boards for UMSL’s Alumni Association, his church St. Mark’s Lutheran, the Eureka Chamber of Commerce and is currently President of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity Alumni Association.
Jason Bockman, BSBA 2007
Entrepreneurial Spirit
Jason Bockman graduated in 2007 with a BSBA in international business. Jason is co-founder of Strange Donuts, which now has three locations and a philanthropic arm, Strange Cares, which focuses on empowering kids’ lives with help from partners Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Children’s Heart Foundation and Girls on the Run.
Tom Migneron, BSBA 1982
Outstanding Leader
Tom Migneron graduated in 1982 with a BSBA in accounting and went on to complete the executive MBA program at Washington University in St. Louis in 1998. Tom joined Edward Jones in June 1986 as a senior auditor in the Internal Audit division. In 1991, Tom assumed responsibility for the Internal Audit division, and in 1993, he was named principal. In 1998, Tom moved to the Operations division. Over time his responsibilities increased to include the Accounts, Trades and Securities Processing areas of Operations. In 2008, he assumed responsibility for the entire Operations division. In addition to serving as a member of the firm’s Management Committee, Tom serves on the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation Operations Advisory Committee. He is also the chair of the SIFMA Private Client Operations Committee.
George Paz, BSBA 1982
2016 Accounting Hall of Fame Inductee
George Paz graduated in 1982 with a BSBA in accounting. George joined Express Scripts in 1998 as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and became President in 2003. In 2005 he was named Chief Executive Officer and the following year was elected chairman of the board. Recently, George announced that he will retire from the company in May 2016. George currently serves as a member of the board of directors for Honeywell, Inc. and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.